Beer: Ratings & Reviews

Reviews by rdickey:

Appearance: A slightly too-rough pour reveals a pale straw colored beer, somewhat cloudy, capped by a massive white head. The head persists for a while, and leaves rings of white lacing as I work my way through the glass.

Smell: Lemons are front and center, but they are capably joined by black pepper, a mild funk and a faint hint of bubble gum.

Taste: Wow, this is a keeper. The thing that most strikes me about the beer is that it’s a coherent package – the lemons from the hops continue to be featured, but everything works together so well that you don’t think “oh, a lemon beer.” Aside from the lemon, there’s a certain earthiness and grassiness, as well as traditional Belgian spice. It all works exceptionally well together.

Mouthfeel: Very light and crisp, with relatively high carbonation. Again, it just works.

Drinkability: Quite high; I’d characterize it as sessionable but the ABV is just a tad high for that. Still, this is going to become a part of my regular rotation. Just exceptional.

More User Reviews:

I like to see breweries like Brooklyn be innovative in making and using rare and exotic products to their product lines.Poured into an oversized wine glass a hazed lemon yellow with a large blossoming white head that clung like glue to the glass as it settled very slowly into a frothy mass.So much going on in the nose it took awhile to pinpoint everything,white pepper,grass,herb,and as others have noted a bit of cedar,light phenols with some clove showed thru as well.Flavors are quite dry and spicy with lemon being most prominent,a big spiciness rolls thru as well,somewhat medicinal in the finish.This is different and I like it,I normally dont single out a saison to buy,this I did and am happy for it.

On tap at Ashley's in Westland. Pours a golden-straw color; translucent with a mild chill haze that eventually fades away as the beer warms up a bit. Big-bubbled, white head is thin all the way throughout, but its small size was most likely due to the pour. Small bits of wet legging cling to the glass momentarily and eventually drip down.

The Sorachi Ace hop is notable for its lemon-like characteristics. Anyone who didn't already know that will definitely realize it after taking a whiff. The nose is packed with lemon in many different hats; lemon peel, lemon zest, lemongrass. Very effervescent; light, yet powerful; smooth, yet crisp. Mild herbal notes, grassy and subtly earthy, showcase themselves alongside the lemon brigade. Belgian yeast is no stranger here, either, adding the classic bubblegum-like aroma that has become oh so familiar. Mild finishing spices; clove, coriander, and faint white pepper.

The taste really integrates the Sorachi Ace hop well - the lemon notes are vibrant and noticeable, yet still manage to blend well with everything else, rather than sound anything out. Lots of flavors clashing all at once with each sip; lemon zest, herbal lemon tea, earthy hops, clove, white pepper, heavy yeast. The malt character is straightforward and basic; sometimes simplicity is the key. They add a nice cracker-like finish with some mild, balancing sweetness. Very like phenol character that only really becomes noticed near the latter half of the glass. Crispy, thanks to the hefty carbonation, finishing pretty dry with fading notes of herbal lemons and spicy yeast in the aftertaste. Thin-medium bodied.

Very good suggestion from Ron. Dangerously drinkable; fresh, crisp, dry, simple, and executed very well. Nice integration of flavor from this unique hop; this beer went down pretty quickly.

Brooklyn Sorachi Ace Saison/Farmhouse Ale 7.6% poured into a St Feuillien Oversized wine glass.Simple but elegant design with the Ace of diamonds and Brooklyn "B" in the center of mid label.

A- This beer pours a beautiful hazed light golden fluid with one hell of a inch and a half white head that is fluffy and stays around for the whole duration of the beer. Massive sticky lacing clings to the glass on all sides... excellent.

S- Where do i start? The first thing I smell is no doubt the Sorachi with a tangy fresh cut grass and lemongrass scent. In the backbone is a nice chalky yeast that slightly stings the nose.

T-M- Taste is quite pleasant for the alcohol this Farmhouse is packing... A warm tangy and lightly metallic lemongrass dominates with undertones of sweet malts and yeast. A good brew in the aspect of excellent mixing of styles. Saison and a foreign hop variety equals interesting flavors. Mouthfeel is smooth and slightly astringent but with a light carbonation that just melds beautifully with the taste buds.

D- In drink this beer I realized that I could easily drink another 750ml and at 7.6% that is an excellent aspect of drinkablity... cheers!

Weathered but clear golden color. Massive head is produced from the expressive and high level of carbonation. Very aromatic with suggestions of Asian pear, faint jasmine, lavender, hibiscus and green peppercorn. Smoothness is very deep here, which helps with telling the beer’s story. Lighter body is fluffed by the bottle conditioning, adding a huge refreshing quality. Fresh herbs with some dried fruit; yeasty and medicinal, cracker maltiness and earthy. Nearly bone-dry finish and not too far off from being an epic brew.

This is a nearly perfect summer beer.In a tulip glass, the beer is an orange/yellow color with a thick white head that retains well. There's a bit of lace.It has a grassy/outdoorsy aroma with some citrus.A fairly strong lemon taste, sweet malt, hops late. Very enjoyable.I think this beer is very crisp and dry, and very refreshing.

T- a bit more muddled than the nose. Again, lemon, lemongrass, and sage type characters lead the way with some pepperiness in the middle that lingers with a long moderately bitter, moderately funky finish.

M- fairly full bodies for the style and with only moderate carbonation, if there's one downside it's this.

O- an extremely interesting, complex, and enticing beer that draws me back for another long, evocative and transforming sip. A slightly thinner body, more carbonation and a slight decrease in the bitterness might have really put this one over the top, but it's still a very good beer.